Senator Mike Lee Faces Scrutiny Over Contrasting Shooting Responses
Utah Senator Mike Lee is once again in the headlines, and this time it’s because of the sharp contrast in how he has reacted to two recent tragedies. His words following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk have been widely noticed, not only for what he said, but also for what he didn’t say just a few months earlier when Minnesota Democratic leaders Melissa Hortman and her husband were gunned down.
After news broke of Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting in Utah, Lee’s social media accounts were quick to condemn the act. He described Kirk as “an American patriot” and “an inspiration to countless young people.” He called the murder “a cowardly act of violence” and offered prayers for Kirk’s widow, Erika, and their children. Speaking publicly, Lee declared, “The terrorists will not win. Charlie will.” His remarks framed Kirk’s death as not just a personal loss but a symbolic battle over values and ideals.
But for many observers, this strong and empathetic response only served to highlight what they felt was a glaring inconsistency. Back in June, when Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were fatally shot, Lee’s reaction was very different. Instead of sympathy, his initial posts spread conspiracy theories. He suggested the killings happened because “Marxists don’t get their way,” and even mocked Minnesota’s Democratic governor, Tim Walz, with a “Nightmare on Waltz Street” reference. None of those claims were supported by evidence. In fact, reports indicated that the suspect in that case had right-leaning views and had once been registered as a Republican.
Also Read:Lee’s comments at that time angered Democrats and even some Republicans. Minnesota Senator Tina Smith directly confronted him, calling the remarks “brutal and cruel.” She urged him to consider the impact of his words on grieving families. Eventually, Lee deleted those posts, but the damage had been done. For many, his lack of compassion toward Hortman’s death stood in stark contrast to his heartfelt tribute to Kirk.
That’s why the backlash has been swift this week. Users on X, formerly Twitter, flooded his posts with reminders that Melissa Hortman and her husband also deserved sympathy, not ridicule. One user pointed out that Lee “expressed no sympathy” back in June but now seemed capable of an appropriate response. Another wrote, “I pray for Charlie Kirk’s family. They should not have to go through this. Nor did Melissa or Mark Hortman, right?”
Even as Lee praised Kirk’s “boundless energy and love for his country,” questions lingered about what has changed. Was it political alignment? Was it personal closeness? Or was it simply the spotlight of conservative attention? Whatever the reason, Lee is being pressed to answer why compassion and outrage were so selectively applied.
For many Americans, these tragedies are part of a larger concern — the growing frequency of political violence in the country. As Tina Smith said in her own statement after Kirk’s death, “We all need to condemn these acts of political violence that are becoming far too commonplace. We can’t continue like this.”
Lee’s words and omissions have now become part of that broader debate, raising tough questions about leadership, empathy, and how partisanship shapes the way tragedy is acknowledged.
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